Sergeant Bergdahl is a Traitor because 'he read too much and didn’t drink enough beer'

[MADem]

64. Look, I spent decades in uniform so I can understand their feeling, HOWEVER...

...we are in a strong drawdown environment right now, and the Nail That Sticks UP Gets Hammered DOWN. Hard. So, hey, actions will have consequences, and it's up to those complainers to weigh how much their career means to them over letting this screw up who may have mental issues just fade away. Far be it from me to tell them don't pipe up, but they need to understand how their comments will resonate from a leadership perspective. They also better not be repeating war stories from people who exaggerate, too--and that isn't uncommon when you get a bunch of service personnel around a water cooler, virtual or otherwise.

If servicemembers want to go on the record, put their names out there, and gripe about what entirely legal, appropriate, and within-their-purview decisions the SECDEF and their Commander in Chief are taking, well, more power to them. But they will get marked down in their performance evaluations--that's just not being a team player. You don't question legal orders, particularly when you're talking about shit that happens in the rarified air of "civilian control of the military." Or you do, and you're regarded as the one who will get in the way of executing the mission. One who gets political, when it's not their charge to so do.

Further, anyone complaining had better be in top physical condition, not a roll of flab on 'em, with excellent PT scores, perfect military bearing, good at their job, never getting into trouble off duty, and never, ever, not once late for work.

Do you see where I'm going, here?

Any decisions senior leadership take on this are--like it or not--entirely LEGAL. The sooner Obama and Hagel put this behind them, the better. This needs to be way in the rear view mirror as soon as practicable. However, as I've said, they've got to bring the guy up to snuff, medically, as much as they are able. Nutrition, mental health, dental--all that has been neglected. And we just don't know how bad off he is--the few videos showed a poorly nourished individual who, from a non-medical perspective, appeared to be "losing it."

A guy who deserted for forty years and did propaganda films for the North Koreans got a month of confinement with time off for good behavior. And he engaged in personal misconduct (getting shitfaced) before he danced over the DMZ. He exercised poor judgment and, in essence, was pretty much sentenced to "time served with Big Kim." This kid's issues don't even come close to that, and a good lawyer can argue that he was mentally ill (who in their right mind wanders around enemy territory without body armor and in their fatigues?) or heading back to base after rethinking his position when he was caught.

Time will reveal all, as it does, but I'm inclined to predict a low key, quick resolution to this issue.